The Man in the Moon, consisting of Essays and Critiques on the Politics, Morals, Manners, Drama, &c. of the present Day. 8vo. pp. 194. Highley. The lucubrations of the "Man in the Moon," published for some time past, periodically, are here collected into a volume. Having received considerable pleasure in their perusal, we dismiss their august author with regret, and shall hail, with joy, his promised reappearance at some future opportunity. The Poetical Magazine: or, Temple of the Muses, consisting chiefly of original Poems, and occasional Selections from scarce and valuable Publications. By a Society of Gentlemen. 12mo. pp. 348. Vernor and Hood. THE first volume of a work, which, in its progress, we have had occasion to notice and applaud, and which cannot fail to be agreeable to the admirers of poetic talent. An Inquiry into the real Difference between actual Money, consisting of Gold and Silver, and Paper Money of various Descriptions. Also an Examination into the Constitution of Banks; and the Impossibility of their combining the two Characters of Bank and Exchequer. By Magens Dorrien Magens, Esq. 8vo. pp. 68. Asperne. MR. M. has displayed no trifling knowledge of his subject, and has treated it in a style highly creditable to his abilities. Two new Dialogues of the Dead. The first, between Handel and .Braham. The second, between Johnson and Boswell, By J. B. 8vo. pp. 32. Johnson, THE first of these dialogues has some whim, and some just satire. The subject of the second is too hacknied to permit an author of talents, far more splendid than Mr. J. B.'s, to introduce it with any novelty. A Sermon occasioned by the Death of the late Dr. Priestley, delivered in the Dissenting Chapel in Monkwell-Street, on Sunday Evening, April 15, 1804. By John Edwards. Johnson. Ir is ever to be regretted, by the lovers of science, that the feuds of party should deprive the country of a man of abilities, so distinguished as were Dr. Priestley's. Mr. Edwards has embraced the sentiments of his departed friend, and has pronounced an able and eloquent eulogium on his character and conduct. The Wild Wreath. Dedicated (by Permission) to H. R. H. the Duchess of York. By M. E. Robinson. 8vo. pp. 228. Phil lips. S S-→→VOL XVII. THE well known abilities of the principal authors of this interesting poetic miscellany, are more than sufficient to render any comment superfluous. The Student's Guide, being a concise Account of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, containing the forms of Admission, &c. By Thomas Lane, Steward. Printed for T. Lane. 8vo. 5s. 1803. We have heard much of book-making, but the Student's Guide is by far the most perfect specimen of the art, that we have witnessed. Tom's ingenuity, in this publication, entitles him to the degree of a professor in this wide branch of literature. A simple statement of the fact will clearly prove it. Students needing information respecting the inn, naturally apply to Tom, the steward, He solves their present doubts, and, to instruct them in such as may trouble them in future, gives them this little book for five shillings. Here we might suppose that Tom's use would in some measure cease, but no, he, after this, becomes a greater man than ever, and more sought after, as indeed he is far more necessary after perusing his work, than he was before. The thing is certainly a book, and therefore you may ask what you please for it, but it lets you no more into the arcana or what you want to know most, than a work on free-masonry. All the desirable heads are stated, it is true, and as nothing is needful but a few intermedia, perhaps a scilicet would not be amiss; or if Master Thomas would condescend to APPEAR to imitate such a man as Warton, what does he think of getting one of his friends to write for him, "A guide to the guide ?" Specimens of the early English Poets, to which is prefixed an His torical Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the English Poetry and Language: in three Volumes. By George Ellis, Esq. the third Edition, corrected. Crown 8vo. Nicol and Hatchard. 1803. THE character we gave of this elegant and entertaining publication, has been so completely ratified by the public voice, that we are called upon to announce a third edition of these poetic specimens, at a very scanty period from the former. The present, however, is not a mere negligent reprint, like many popular compilations, as we gather from the editor's advertisement. "Notwithstanding the care, (he tells us) with which the former edition of this work was revised, during its progress through the press, it was found to contain very numerous, though not very important, typographical errors. For the detection and the removal of these; for the collation of nearly all the ex * See M. Mirror for Sept. Oct. and Nov. 1801, tracts contained in the work, with the earliest and best copies of the originals, whether printed or manuscript; for the insertion of some new specimens ; and for much additional information in the notices prefixed to the several authors; the editor is indebted to the kindness of his friend Mr. Heber, and to the assistance of Mr. Park. "The defects, (he adds) which still remain are solely chargeable to the editor. Many of these, however, will, it is hoped, be removed by the publication of a second series of specimens, selected from our Early Metrical Romances, which will complete the sketch of our poetical antiquities, and is now 'nearly ready for the press." With the latter part of this information we are particularly gratified, as the work here announced has long been a desideratum in English literature, and is one which the taste, and knowledge, and judgment of Mr. Ellis so eminently qualify him to supply. As we perceive that several new articles appear in this edition of the specimens, as well as additional extracts, we shall present our readers with the account of an early English sonnetteer, and with a specimen of his performance, the very title to which they are not likely to have heard of before. rr BARNABY BARNES, "A younger son of Dr. Richard Barnes, bishop of Durham, was born in the county of York, and in 1586, at the age of seventeen, became a student of Brazen-nose college, Oxford, but left the University without a degree. He engaged in the French service under the Earl of Essex, in 1591, and afterwards united with Harvey in a satirical attack upon Nash, who completely discomfited his assailants by the caustic poignancy of his wit. Wood was not able to ascertain the time of his death, but has registered the following productions of his pen: "A divine Centurie of Spirituall Sonnets," 1595, 4to; "Four books of Offices," 1606, fol. and "The Devil's Charter," a tragedy, 1607, 8vo.--From the first of these, a publication of uncommon rarity, the following sonnet is taken, which, at least, has the merit of combining an arbitrary recurrence of rhyme with the dignified freedom of blank verse. SONNET. Unto my spirit lend an angel's wing, By which it might mount to that place of rest Thy mercy lend unto my soul distrest; Who with despair my dear salvation dar'd, And, like the Philistine, stood breathing still Proud threats against my soul, for heaven prepar'd: At length, I like an angel shall appear Galatea: a Pastoral Romance from the French of M. Florian. By Miss Highley. Dedicated by Permission to the Marchioness of Salisbury. Highley. Large Paper, 10s. 6d. Small, 7s. 8vo. 1804. In an age like the present, when almost all the blossoms of literature are deeply injured by the blights of affectation and absurdity, it affords us no little satisfaction to find a few plants that have escaped the infection, and, having enjoyed a necessary share of art in their cultivation, owe the greater part of their excellence to the lovely simplicity and never-fading beauty of nature. Amongst this enviable few, we do not hesitate to class the Galatea of Miss Highley. M. Florian is now so well known in this country, from the amusement he has yielded at the theatre, at the opera, and in the closet, that we need make no apology for confining our observations exclusively to the romance before us. Galatea was, we are told, the first work of the immortal Cervantes. In this production, the author of Don Quixote did not escape the mauvais goût of his day. But," says Florian," in the midst of all its defects, we find charming ideas, true sentiments, and the emotions and conflicts of the heart, and these considerations induced me to select it for imitation: as it has never been translated, and is, at this day, absolutely unknown in France." Introd. p. 13. Galatea is, in the original, in six books, and incomplete. He has reduced these six to three, and concluded the work in a fourth. Scarcely a single line can be said to have been translated, and he has further added some entire scenes; as the exchange of crooks, in the first book; the Fête Champêtre, and the history of the doves, in the second; the farewell to Elicio's dog in the third; and the fourth is perfectly of his own invention. The Galatea of Florian, thus varied and improved, appeared first in 1788, and this year it has pleased Miss Highley to present the English reader with a translation, which would have reflected great credit on the taste, judgment, and acquirements of one of a maturer age. The chastity of thought, the delicacy of mind, and the tasteful elegance which so peculiarly belong to the female character, make it most desirable that works like this, whose distinguishing traits are pastoral sweetness, innnocence, and love, whether to compose or to translate, should always fall into such fair hands as it has been the good fortune of Galatea to meet with. The style is, for the most part, pure and unaffected-such as becomes the nature of pastoral romance; and we doubt not, that, wherever it is otherwise, it is owing to the learned emendations of Miss H.'s editor, who, at p. 8, by a curious sort of logic, tells us of the -improvements he has made in the style, by robbing it of its characteristic beauties. "It may be proper to add," continues this gentleman," that the poetry is from the pen of the editor, whose unpoetic Muse ne'er quenched its thirst in Pierian streams." p. 8. What the latter part of this sentence would signify, is not very clear as it now stands, but if the author means to say that he is but a poor poet, nothing can be more clear or true. After all, we are much indebted to the editor of Galatea, since to his advice, we owe the production of this pleasing little volume. Not being able to afford space sufficient to quote from it as we wish, we shall content ourselves with recommending it to every reader whose taste is not grossly vitiated, and whose morals are not entirely depraved. He who has any remains of these qualities in their purity, will feel himself rivetted to this delightful romance, and will, at the end, exclaim with Tityrus in the eclogue, Nec (Fatebor enim,) dum me GALATEA tenebat, spes libertatis erat, nec cura. Notwithstanding the devotion of our amiable authoress to the virtues, charities, and tranquillity of domestic life, we hope, after a little further study, again to see her summon the public attention, and we fear not, seeing the happy augury before us, that she will ever do so in vain. The work is embellished with three plates, engraved by Purden, from drawings by Thompson. 8vo. Rassurez vous; or the Improbability of an Invasion, and the Impossibility of its Success demonstrated. Edinburgh, Constable; London, Longman and Rees. 1803. pp. 39. AN animated pamphlet, which contains a masterly sketch of the fortunes and character of Bonaparte, and points out such numerous obstacles to the success of the French invasion, if attempted, that the most timid of our 'countrywomen, after reading this publication, would no longer find room for the smallest apprehension. After demonstrating the difficulties in the way of the embarka tion of the French troops, and the dangers that await the armament on the ocean, before it approaches our shores, the author supposes it arrived in safety at a single point; "for it is necessary," he observes, "that if the force is divided, not only the chances of some part of it being intercepted are multiplied, but the probabilities of its ultimate and expected success are exceedingly diminished. The debarkation of the French army, is the most interesting sub |